Wallenpaupack Slugs its Way to a District 32 Championship

Let's face it: the opposition never really had a chance against this baseball juggernaut. On Sunday afternoon in Newfoundland, Paupack completed un undefeated run through the District 32 Junior League bracket with a 12-1 rout of Carbino Club.

By Kevin Edwards

News Eagle - Hawley, PA

By Kevin Edwards

Posted Jul. 16, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 16, 2012 at 4:20 PM

By Kevin Edwards

Posted Jul. 16, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 16, 2012 at 4:20 PM

Newfoundland, Pa.

Simply put, Paupack utterly dominated its competition all throughout this year’s Junior League tournament.

The young Bucks opened their District 32 title quest with a 9-0 shutout of Carbino Club. They followed that up with a 13-1 rout of Lakeland and a 4-0 victory over Western Wayne.

On a stifling hot Sunday afternoon, the only thing standing between Paupack and a D-32 title was a re-match with Carbino. Once again, the local lads amped up the offense, scoring early & often en route a 12-1 Mercy Rule win.

“We played tremendous fundamental baseball,” Manager John Gilpin told The News Eagle. “We were focused and determined... and, it was a total team effort. Every single kid contributed something.”

With this 4-0 showing at the tourney, Paupack cops the district crown and advances to sectionals.

Next on the agenda for the reigning D-32 champs is a Wednesday road trip to Swoyersville for an opening round game against a team from District 31.

Grand Finale

Mitchell Guerrieri took the hill Sunday and turned in a stellar outing.

A fireballing righty who also throws a nasty curve, a change-up and even a baby knuckler, Guerrieri pitched four solid frames and earn-ed the win.

“Mitch did a great job,”?said assistant coach Jim ODell. “He changed speeds and moved the ball in and out right from the start. He really kept their batters off balance all game.”

Guerrieri allowed three hits while fanning four and walking two. Offensively, Mitch received all the support he’d need in the home first.

Justin ODell got things going with a lead-off single to right. He took second on a throwing error, then delighted the big crowd by scoring all the way from second on a bunt off the bat of Chris Brindle.

Brindle scored moments later on an infield single by Guerrieri. Austin Gilpin then delivered the game’s first big basehit, ripping a Mitch McHale heater up the alley in left center for an RBI?double and 3-0 lead.

After Guerrieri set Carbino Club down in the top of the second, Paupack put the game out of reach with five runs in the home half.

The highlight of this particular rally was a perfectly executed suicide squeeze off the bat of second baseman Ray Ortiz.

Mark Peterson also made his presence felt in the bottom of the second. Paupack’s slugging clean-up man erased the memory of a first inning strikeout by crushing an RBI?double to the base of the fence in left centerfield.

Paupack’s hard-nosed left fielder sprinted in on a hump-backed liner off the bat of Rocco DiPietro. It appeared as though the ball would fall in for a hit, but at the last second Sprague laid out for a spectacular diving catch.

Over &?Out

Paupack chased McHale from the hill in the second and treated a pair Carbino relief pitchers with equal disdain.

The local lads sealed the deal on their D-32 crown with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth.

ODell, Brindle and Guerrieri led the way overall. Justin banged out two hits and tallied twice, while Chris and Mitch crossed the plate three times each.